Rapper Rick Ross's Date Rape Lyric Was a Huge Career Mistake

Protests flare up, snatch all the headlines for a few days, then silently fall away to make room for the next big explosion of controversy, even if it’s just to talk about a too-tight Kardashian skirt on a slow news day. The dust-up over Rick Ross’ date rape lyric has had a longer shelf life than most, however.

Rightfully so. Dig this nonsense: "Put molly all in her champagne/she ain't even know it/I took her home and I enjoyed that/she ain't even know it," he rhymed on a track called “U.O.E.N.O.”

It’s not even his song and it wouldn’t have gotten a quarter of this much attention if that line hadn’t caused such outrage. It’s nonetheless at the center of a protest organized by women’s rights org UltraViolet, who’ll will gather in front of Reebok’s flagship store in NYC to demand the company sever its endorsement deal with Ross and give his inappropriate-lyric-rappin’ tail the boot.

Advertisement

A petition that’s been circulating for nearly a week has garnered more than 71,700 signatures, and they’ll brandish it tomorrow to keep the fury burning. Team UltraViolent intends to drive home the point that just because Ross doesn’t specifically say the word “rape” in the song—an excuse both he and Reebok have leaned on in response to the kerfuffle—the implication is just as damaging as if he did. Especially using a drug in the process.

Ross insists he didn’t mean it that way, that he has respect for women, that the lyric has been misinterpreted and blah blah blah blah. The response is pathetically flimsy. In saying what he didn’t mean, he has yet to explain what he did intend to say. He hasn’t taken responsibility, and I'm tired of people calling themselves artists, then acting so hands-off once they release their stuff out into the general public. Man up and don't try to smooth talk your way out of it by basically saying nothing.

My question is: if you’ve fashioned a reputation as a ladies’ man, aren’t you insulting your own self by suggesting you’ve reduced your seduction techniques to drugging women and having your way with them while they’re unconscious?

Even though Ross has solidified his lyrical dumb-assness, reaction to it has been promising. Other rappers and men in general have injected their own disgust over Ross’ date rape innuendo. A Michigan radio station, 103.7 the Beat/WUVS-LP, pulled all Rick Ross songs from its rotation because of the song. So at least women aren’t one squeaky wheel making noise all by ourselves, as so often is the case.

Should we even bother expecting celebrities to own up to their content?